How Visalam Blends History And Comfort
As a century-old yet lovingly-restored palatial home in Kanadukathan village of the Chettinad, Visalam is more than just a hotel - it's an experience.
The history, culture, and architecture of South India differ noticeably from North India, shaped by distinct dynasties, languages, and religious influences. While North India was heavily influenced by centuries of Islamic rule and later Mughal architecture - evident in grand forts, domed mosques, and marble mausoleums - South India developed under powerful Dravidian kingdoms like the Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagar Empire, whose legacy is seen in intricately carved stone temples, towering gopurams, and temple towns that remain active centres of worship.
Culturally, South India has retained strong classical traditions in dance, music, and language, with Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam forming a separate linguistic and literary heritage from the largely Hindi-speaking North. The cuisine, dress, festivals, and even pace of life also reflect these deep-rooted regional distinctions, offering travellers contrasting experiences within the same country.
One of the most distinctive cultural pockets of South India is the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu, known for its unique blend of heritage, craftsmanship, and culinary traditions. An unusual sensory delight, the region has one particularly unusual feature: its mansions.
Even pre-restoration, Chettinad mansions are grand, intricately designed homes that reflect the wealth and global outlook of the Chettiar community, blending traditional South Indian architecture with colonial and international influences.
What is Chettinad famous for?
To understand Chettinad, it is important to know about its history. While globally known for its cuisine, this region is traditionally associated with the Chettiar community, who were prominent in trade, weaving, and agriculture in pre-colonial India. Their original homeland was Kaveripoompattinam, a thriving coastal city in the Chola Kingdom. In the 6th century, a devastating tsunami struck the area, forcing the community to move inland. As a result, 96 villages were established in the arid uplands of Tamil Nadu, giving rise to what is now known as the Chettinad region.
Chettinad rose to prominence in the 19th and early 20th centuries as the Chettiar merchant community built their wealth through trade across Southeast Asia. The prosperity of that period lives on in the region’s architecture - impressive mansions crafted with materials sourced from around the world, including Burmese teak, Italian marble, Belgian glass, and locally made Athangudi tiles. These homes reflect a striking blend of Indian tradition and global influences.
However, the decline of the Chettinad mansions began in the mid-20th century, as the economic and social circumstances that had sustained them began to shift. Following Indian independence and changes in trade routes, the overseas businesses that had fuelled the Chettiars’ wealth began to wane.
Nationalisation policies in countries like Burma and Sri Lanka led to the loss of Chettiar-owned assets abroad, and the move towards urbanisation drew younger generations away from the ancestral villages to cities in India and overseas.
As a result, many of the grand mansions were left empty or fell into disrepair, their upkeep proving too costly for families no longer living there. Without regular maintenance, the buildings began to deteriorate, and some were even dismantled and sold off piece by piece.
Many currently remain abandoned, standing as quiet reminders of a once-thriving community and a bygone era of architectural splendour. However, a growing number have been restored and repurposed as heritage hotels or cultural sites, with one of the best examples being Visalam by CGH Earth Hotels.
What is the history of Visalam?
Visalam is a beautifully restored heritage mansion located in the town of Kanadukathan in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, South India. Originally built in the early 20th century by a wealthy Chettiar father as a wedding gift for his daughter Visalakshi, the home was never used as a family residence in its time.
Despite its grandeur - with spacious courtyards, high ceilings, and fine woodwork - it stood largely unoccupied for decades, a reflection of changing fortunes and lifestyles within the Chettiar community.
In recent years, Visalam has been carefully restored to its former glory by CGH Earth, a hospitality group known for reviving culturally significant properties across South India. The restoration preserved the mansion’s original architectural details, including Athangudi tiles, polished Burma teak, and traditional Chettinad design elements, while adapting it for use as a boutique heritage hotel.
Today, Visalam offers guests a chance to experience Chettiar hospitality, architecture, and cuisine in a thoughtfully curated setting that honours the building’s history and the cultural legacy of the region. Visalam is proudly more than just a hotel - it's an experience, exuding the spirit of the time it was built.
Visalam by CGH Earth is one of the best examples of a meticulously restored Chettinad mansion, which are regarded as some of the most unique heritage hotels in India.
What are the key facilities at Visalam?
Travellers are often drawn to staying in Chettinad mansions for the chance to experience a unique blend of heritage, architecture, and cultural depth that few other destinations offer. For guests who opt to stay at Visalam, some of the highlights travellers can expect from this property include the following.
Cuisine
Chettinad cuisine blends South-East Asian spices with Indian ingredients to create bold, peppery dishes rich in flavour. Known as one of India’s spiciest cuisines, its simple presentation hides its complexity. At Visalam, food lovers can join interactive kitchen sessions to learn the secrets behind this much-admired regional cuisine.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda, meaning ‘the science of life’, is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. At Visalam’s Ayurvedic centre, guests can unwind with traditional therapies like full-body massage or shirodhara, where warm herbal oil is gently poured over the forehead to calm the nervous system and restore balance to body and mind.
Pool
The pool at Visalam offers the perfect way to unwind after exploring the region’s grand mansions and historic streets. Surrounded by a beautifully maintained garden, it provides a peaceful setting to relax, read, or simply cool off from the heat of South India. We reccommend opting for early morning or late afternoon for the best experience!
Room Features
Spacious and full of character, the rooms at Visalam feature high ceilings, polished floors, and handpicked details that reflect the home’s heritage. Traditional Chettinad tiles and handloom furnishings from local weavers add warmth and authenticity, and every element has been thoughtfully chosen to echo when the mansion was originally built.
With four dining outlets to choose from, the meals at Visalam showcase authentic Chettinad cuisine, featuring bold, spice-rich dishes made using traditional recipes and locally sourced ingredients.
Why do we love Visalam at India Unbound?
Lincoln Harris, Founder and Managing Director of India Unbound, has personally experienced a stay at Visalam by CGH Earth. His only regret? That they couldn’t stay longer.
“As soon as we entered the lobby, the little touches that make Visalam special started. I walked through the central courtyard to my room on the second floor, which was one of the Chettinad Suites. The rooms are large with high ceilings and furnishings that are warm and inviting. There are so many small touches that highlight local industries and crafts. The floors have the famous local tiles that grace most of the Chettinad mansions, and are handmade by a process perfected over many generations in the small-scale factories of Aathangudy, about 10km from Visalam.”
Beyond the rooms themselves, Lincoln found that the laid-back luxury of Visalam extended to the activities and service provided, particularly the food.
“Dinner was all local specialties and included an entrée, main thali (a set meal with all the dishes on your plate) and then a dessert of payasam which is ubiquitous in Southern India. The food was amazing, and it’s always a delight to discover how one dish can have so many regional variations. Unfortunately, I only spent one night at Visalam, but I could have easily filled more days with the many great activities on offer. We often receive feedback from our travellers that they wish they had more time here!”
At India Unbound, we undertake extensive research to ensure our guests only experience the best on their travels through South India. According to Lincoln, it doesn’t get much better than Visalam.
Explore South India in style with India Unbound
Established in 2007, India Unbound is an award-winning travel company specialising in bespoke private tours throughout South India and beyond. With more than two decades of experience exploring India, we create unique itineraries with heritage hotels for discerning travellers looking for their next big adventure. To find out more about how we can bring your bucket list travel dreams to life, get in touch today.